JWLibrary size

[Tortuga]

I have an older android tablet that was out of space, so I started looking at apps that were using the most space and I found my JWLibrary was over 2.5 GB. I moved it to the external drive (SD card) but it didn't make any difference in how much space was being used on the internal drive. The media was already going to the SD card, so that wasn't a problem. 

 

I decided to delete the data and that freed up 2.5 GB of space on the internal drive. I reinstalled the publications and now my JWLibrary is using only half a GB. 

 

Why was it using 2.5 GB?

[JudyO]

This is ChatGPT's answer:

"What you saw is actually pretty common with Android apps that are used for years.

Even though the publications and media may not have changed dramatically, JW Library accumulates data over time. Here are the most likely reasons your installation had grown to 2.5 GB:

1. Cached files
   • As publications are updated, the app downloads new versions.
   • Old temporary files and cached data aren't always removed immediately.
   • Over months or years, this cache can become very large.
2. Database growth
   • JW Library stores your:
     • highlights
     • notes
     • bookmarks
     • tags
     • reading history
     • navigation history
   • These databases slowly grow. They're usually not huge by themselves, but they contribute.
3. Old publication versions
   • When publications are revised, Android apps sometimes retain older files until the app decides they're safe to delete.
   • If an update is interrupted or an older version isn't cleaned up properly, duplicate files can remain.
4. Temporary download files
   • Every time you download or update publications, temporary files are created.
   • Occasionally these aren't deleted after the installation completes.
5. Android app storage quirks
   • Choosing "Move to SD card" often moves only part of the app (the APK or some app components).
   • The data directory—which is usually the largest part—often remains on internal storage. That's why moving the app didn't noticeably reduce internal storage.

The fact that deleting the app's data reduced it from 2.5 GB to about 500 MB strongly suggests the extra 2 GB was mostly accumulated cache, temporary files, or obsolete publication data rather than your current publications.

Is this normal?

Yes. Many Android apps gradually accumulate extra storage. Apps that manage lots of downloaded content—like JW Library, streaming apps, podcast apps, map apps, and web browsers—can all grow well beyond their "necessary" size over time.

A good maintenance practice

If you notice JW Library becoming unusually large every year or two:

• Make sure your notes and highlights are synchronized if you use that feature.
• Delete the app's data (or reinstall the app).
• Download only the publications you currently use.

As you discovered, this can reclaim several gigabytes without losing anything that's backed up or easily re-downloaded.

Your experience—shrinking from 2.5 GB to 0.5 GB—is a textbook example of accumulated app data being cleared out by a fresh start."